Shawn leaped away from the sshing cws of that deadly feline and snapping beak out of sheer rea. He came out of his evasion feeling that tingling fire in his arm erupt into a white-hot fme. If he was running on fumes for his Etteria, he'd have to make his shots t.

  He held his hand ba a braced position, aiming square at the face of the ferocious foe, remembering everything Halsey told him–about pushing energy away from his core, or wherever this energy was stored. This was getting marginally easier–he just had to direct that energy, like holding a taut rubber band. H let loose with a mental release, like a nocked arrow.

  But this creature moved fast, and anticipated this move. It swerved to the right, and the fiery bolt sihe fur on one of its ears. It s this offense, aated. Cire and Varrick had both retreated, with Cire leaning on the frame of an at wall, firing with precision.

  The powerful round tore into the creature’s fnk, while Varrick fluttered backward as the creature was closest to him, swiping and shing out with its tail–a longer member that told Shaws rear was not unprotected. The spiore a k out of a wooden fence post Varrick had been adjat to.

  He loosed another fire dart, once again missing–the bolts were too slow for this fast feline, and it ducked and leaped after him again, having decided he was the bigger threat. He tumbled away a a set of instant bruises on his wings–he’d fotten they existed, and now he aying for it.

  “Varrick, it’s too fast for my gestalts!” he called out.

  “And it’s eating rifle rounds for breakfast!” Varrick balked, firing with deadly aim as he put rounds into the creature's fnk. But they didn’t seem to have much impact, and it screeched in fury, still trying to fight its way toward Shawn. He scrambled backward and nearly had his foot taken off by a deadly swipe, and fell back to a porch of an adjat building. Halsey, what about my ice ability?

  You o focus on it, you o el your ability! It’s different than the fire, it’ll feel different as the poes through your Etteria work!

  My work?! What does that mean?!

  ht, I didn’t expin that one. We really should go over my observations and some pointers–

  Halsey, not now! He frantically grabbed a wooden chair to put an obstacle between him and the creature, and it stumbled when it skidded across the surface, flung with all his might. He focused on that other pathway within his core with deadly, patient calm– and was rewarded with feeling the reassuring chill of hoar frost creeping along his talons.

  The Jabberyowl screeched and tried to hook outwards with its foraw, sshing at air and missing him by millimeters. But, it bought him time to bst a globule of frost onto the porch, snap-freezing the surfad coating the pord a good portion of the surrounding area with ice.

  The frost did not climb up the feline’s legs–it only seemed to be effective on inanic matter, and the creature reared back its paws as the ice spread underh it. In doing so, It scrabbled and slipped on the ice. He took that as his opportunity to focus on the globule of fire in his hand, pushing down that impulse of energy from his core, down his arm, and using his fio hold the globule in pce, eling power and feeling his fingers shaking from the vibration of the power.

  And pain. It felt like a splintering pain was emanating from his wrist, along his lower arm, but he held focus and aimed at the temporarily staggered creature. Once he lined up he released the bst of fire with as much force as he could. It impacted on its chest, its fur sm, and it reared backward, rolling on its side in the dirt of the tower.

  But Shawn wasly focused on that, so much as the burning recoil on his arm, and he clutched it. He warily kept an eye on the monster as Varrid Cire–and other militia members, now free from the roars by the gate–opened fire on it. Most of the shots missed a up plumes of dirt and grass.

  The creature screeched, locked its intense green eyes with Shawn, radiating hatred. It skidded bato its legs, bounded up along a house adjat to the wall with an incredible feat of athletics, and then leaped with incredible grace over the town wall. It kept yowling with that screechy tone, and used its wings to glide away to safety–the rounds traced after it, but found no purchase in its body.

  “Yeah, you better run!” Shawn called out with a screed grimaced against the burning pain of his right arm. The hoar frost on his other haed and faded, and he gripped his arm. Distantly, the pack of animals fled into the forest depths, with fading screeches and yowls.

  “Shawn, are you okay?!” Cire called out and slid out the der from her revolver–just as Varrick tossed her a spare one, which she reloaded with incredible fluidity before snapping the der bato position. He nodded and showed his fingers–a little scorched, but the pain was fading.

  “Yeah. Mostly self-burn.” He g Varrick, shaking his head. “What the hell was that all about?”

  Varrick growled audibly while he reloaded his lever a, and after gng at the ramparts, let out a soft sigh. “Damn Jabberyowls. That was aggressive, for them. Normally they don’t e close enough to the wall for us to shoot at them. And they like our powerful gestalts, even less. Life out here keeps you on your cwtips, or you bee a monster's meal.”

  “Fun. How did I burn myself?” Shawn muttered.

  “You better learn to el yestalt a little better. That was impressive…but ineffit,” Varrick stated, before slinging his rifle back between his wings. He then motioo examine Shawn’s hand. “Ah, minor burns. Let’s get this ed, it should heal quickly. We also o run you through some training. I ’t make use of you if you’re dead.”

  “Ain’t life in Remaria grand,” Cire uttered with a snarl and examihe revolver. “These rounds didn’t do anything but piss it off.” Varrick frowned, before taking off the belt for the holster, and handing it to her, surprising her.

  “Keep that. Even a firearm that’s only good against smaller creatures has a good ce of sg off the bigger ohe Jabberyoack hunters, and they’re clever. Occasionally, they pick off game animals from the nearby farms, then run away with the kill before we respond, to share amongst themselves. Not so sure why they were willing to leap over the wall to eat a rather sy Aveeran,” he added with a smirk, pointing to Shawn.

  “I’m gd I’m not sidered a filling meal,” he muttered. “Do you think they were fog on me?”

  “That’s a good point.” Cire picked up on his cue. “Most predators are opportunists and ambushers. They charged through here in broad daylight, past the sentries which they ko avoid. Uhe rules of the animal kingdom are wildly different in Remaria, there were better targets to choose from. I’d say, something was driving them.”

  “Hmm. Possible. I’ve knowalts that could trol or make it easy to train and tame various monsters, but…it’s just specution on my part. Try not to look edible, Shawn. It’ll up your ces of survival.”

  Shawhe urge to snap his beak at Varrick, who ughed at the gesture. “Yeah. Top of the priority list: make more effective guns, get this gestalt figured out, and build a bigger wall. And looking scarier.”

  “That st one's never gonna happen, with your appearance as a stuffed bird,” Cire stated with a smirk. He gave her a sm look in response. “Life lesson: don’t py with magic rocks.”

  “I hate you sometimes, you know that, Cire?”

  “What are family members without a little animosity?” she added with a grin. “Okay, that’s a more intimidating gre. Keep w on it. Someday, you might be able to scare small forest animals.”

  “Bite me. You were pining about how I am stantly c death."

  "Well if it's unavoidable, best to be prepared." He softened his expression.

  "A fair point."

  After the excitement for the day--and only suffering a few scuffs--Shawn gnced around at the smithy, where Varrick had a living quarter attached. There was a guest room with two beds–it arse but serviceable. The bed was rger, to at for Aveeran wingspan, and their slightly taller stature. Varrick gave them a quick tour.

  “So, as you might have noticed, the orbital ptforms had…different tech. I there once."

  “This strikes me as 1800’s, early 1900’s teology. Minus whatever you do with the gestalts.” The furnace was serviceable, as well as the other equipment. What it needed was maximum utilization. “So, your house, your rules. Anything specific?”

  “Sure. On the off eet a plus one…maybe take the a somepce else.” Shawn and Cire g each other skeptically while Varrick bit on his pipe gently. “You earn your keep, if you’ve got skills, we’ll put them to good use. Try to be home before nightfall, lock the door, and make sure you up after yourselves.”

  “Indoor plumbing is high on my priority list,” Shawn muttered. “Why is the tech level so disparate? The orbital ptform had steel works and advanced magitech, it held gravity and an atmosphere. This is…not the same.”

  “Ah, noticed that, have you?” Varrick poio the fe and grunted. “The Radiants tend to keep tech to themselves. There were means of manufacturing that were adva one point. However, the scattered nature of the world makes it tough tate information. And industry. Valtiria Prime might have some good examples of magitech prevalent everywhere, and in some of the major cities. Same story, with the yers below. But…lots of it gets stuck, and you 't get it from one pce to another. Not easily."

  “Yeah, he’s got a point. It’s hard to ship industry when your entire p is one giant asteroid field,” Cire pointed out sourly. “It's all over the pce. Orbital ptforms, and then this! Gestalt users with literal firepower, and then a town without a funal sewer system!” She pced her bag on a ter and then looked at Shawn. “Telga hosed us. Giant cat moried to eat you today. You're ag unnaturally chill.”

  “Would you prefer I ay? Because I don't. Cire, I still have my books, and we aren't the only travelers from Earth. We have something to start from.” But, she wasn't hearing logic, eyes narrowed at him.

  “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror tely? I think you're traumatized!”

  “Yep. Let's talk about my trauma. Because it's the thing I love to talk about the most. If I wasn’t fine, I would say so.” She leaned in, fists ched.

  “No, you wouldn’t. You bottle it in, like you do, every siime. Right until you call me at two in the m on a weekday, sobbing and–”

  He felt every feather bristle on his body at that accusation, and she knew she’d gooo far, wheopped herself, biting her lip. “I–I shouldn’t…” she trailed off, uo take back the words.

  “You shouldn’t have,” he stated quietly. He could feel the peering gaze of Varrick out of his peripheral vision, aured to the veteran smith. “Just some…well, stuff that we were still w through, ba Earth.”

  “I know that look. I know that defle, Shawn. Because I’ve seen it too mu my life.” Varrick pulled his pipe away, to sprinkle in some dried product, before lighting it with what Shawn suspected rimitive match.

  Varrick waited for the tiny plume of smoke to clear before he regarded them. “Look, I’m not going to pretend to be blind. You in particur Shawn, have damage, but I’m guessing it’s from prior events. Regardless of whether you admit it, or not. My advice? Square it away, or find a way to put it behind you. Distras get you killed in Remaria faster than a Radiant in a bad mood out here.”

  It felt like a rebuke, but Shawn also realized he was giving a stark reminder: Life was not easy in this world.

  Cire puffed out an impatient breath of air. “We’ll ha, Varrick. We made it this far.”

  “Good. Now, if you need ara ear to listen to on occasion, I do that.” Varrick took a ptive puff of his pipe. “Anything I should worry about?”

  “We’re good,” Shawn answered before Cire could get a word in, and she took his lead and slowly nodded. Varrick tilted his head, looking satisfied at the response.

  “Oh, new rule. No rivalry squabbling.” Shawn turo aim a droll look at Varrick, who chuckled. “You aren't exging fists, so I presume this is normal for you two.”

  “Unfortunately,” Cire responded with a puff of air. She took one of the bunks–the lower one. “Seriously, what we do against a guy who blow moons out of the sky? We’re boned.”

  “Just let it rest for a day, Cire. We find solutions along the way. Varrick, I think we might stand a ce. But, I also need some space to test out my gestalt. I've got a few theories.”

  He nodded and poio the fe. “Best practice where you 't burn or freeze something solid. This building is well fortified, and the timber is quite fire-resistant from the local trees. Try not to make yourself an ice sculpture or roast yourself, yeah? The barracks also have some training grounds festalts. Especially for people on bonding day.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Ah, when people e of age, we give them aeria crystal. It's a ritualistic day, a little bit of celebration, a little bit of a rite of passage. People might be born with a gestalt, but not everyone’s is notable. In most cases, people take the crystals and gain a gestalt. Usually, only one."

  “I thought–”

  Cire cleared her throat audibly and gave him a face full of ire. He stopped mid-sentence–he had another resource. Hang on. Halsey, firm something for me if you . the normal Etteria be boo someoh a gestalt?

  Yes, but it’s not the same, based on Telga’s brief description. It either gives them a new power if one has not maed by geic heritage, or reinforces their existing one. I think. You should research this oer, I only vaguely recall this one.

  So the primal Etteria is different. Does it need a bnk vas to work? Someone who has alt eic ges?

  Good question–we should iigate this when we . We have one sample we test, before Cire uses it. If she wants to use it.

  Shawn cleared his throat in that brief instant of time, taking Cire’s cue. “So, what estalts are there, in town, if almost everyone has one?”

  “Most are minor. Low-level telekinesis, instant memory recall, creating a small spark or a fme on demand. Turning invisible for a few seds at a time…damn teenage always trying to go snogging, but they fet they still make sound,” Varrick added with a huff.

  “Yeah. I think tomorrow will be a busy day,” Shawn replied hastily while Cire rolled her eyes. “Alright, Cire, I o go practie stuff. I ’t rest right now.”

  “Yeah, I’m with Varrick. Try not to turn yourself into fried chi,” she added sourly.

  “What’s a chi?” Varrick asked.

  “You don’t have those here?” Shaw a small part of his entire existence die when Varrick shook his head.

  “No. We don’t. What is it, anyway?”

  “A small game animal that everyone swears tastes like everything,” Cire expihere was o emphasize that they ate birds as part of their diet, before this.

  Shaw out a frustrated exhale as Cire got settled in her bunk a moment ter, and Varrick used a short burst of flight to leap up to the sed floor, though a series of climbing points were there for those without wings.

  Varrick turned around, gesturing to him. "Yestalts. Are you getting a feel for them? Most people gh training on them...but no two gestalts are quite the same. I tell you, find your core, first. It all starts there."

  "I...sort of feel it. But is it physically there?" he asked hesitantly.

  Varriodded. "The Etteria, it bonds to us. it's got a physical presence...and thehat exists elsewhere. its influence isn't limited to its physical e, either. Telga knows more. Me, I'm just a simple smith who knows metals, Shawn. Though, I saw you worked out a few basiot everyohht. Some people even hurt themselves. Start small, feel them out."

  "How?"

  "You'll feel the power el through you. Think of it like a river. You're tapping off a small stream at a time with...floodgates, in essence." Shawn took note of the analogy. "You need help...I'm right here."

  "Yeah. I just...I need a little time to think," Shawn answered, after thinking on it. Varriodded calmly before heading up to the loft, out of sight. He gnced around the open space of the fe, and could feel the f heat of the coals within. Varrick had said before that evenings were starting to get cool–an autumn equivalent wasn’t that far away. He g a small pile of metal scraps oable, beled iron. He hefted it in his cw–it didn’t weigh much, probably only a few hundred grams, at best.

  Halsey, let’s get to testing. I want to explore what I do, but we’re starting small. He regarded the iron in his hand, and his abilities. There was vast potential if they worked the way he thought they worked.

  It was time to unlock that potential.

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